|
<Back
| Home | Basics |
Departments | Get
Involved | Site Map | What's
New
Ask the Doctor
About Allergies & Hay Fever
By Tom Cowan, MD
Question: I am a 34-year-old male and basically in excellent
health. However, ever since I was about ten years old, I have had hay
fever so bad that I feel like I almost miss Spring. From early May to
mid June my eyes water, my nose runs and my throat itches. I get short
of breath and every year I end up with a sinus infection. I have been
treated with allergy shots which helped for a while, decongestants which
made me drowsy, the new allergy medicines which just made me feel funny
and homeopathic medicines which only gave very temporary relief. Do
you have any advice for me?
Answer: Allergies and hay fever are among the most common
maladies suffered by modern Americans. Allergy medication every year
is among the top five best selling drugs and if you count asthma, eczema
and food allergies, almost one out of three Americans has some sort
of allergy. Surprisingly, this condition is of relatively recent origin
as even the homeopathic doctors in the early part of the century rarely
described allergic diseases or hay fever. As I have discussed in this
column, many changes in our life-styles and habits have occurred this
century which probably account for this rising incidence.
Specifically, the best theory on the etiology of allergies is that
they are related to an imbalance in the functioning of our adrenal gland.
More exactly, when the adrenal cortex – that part of our adrenal gland
that makes various hormones (such as cortisone) that mediate the inflammatory
response – is weak or underactive, then a variety of symptoms occur.
Besides inflammation, which can manifest as asthma, weeping skin or
hay fever, depending on the site of the inflammation, these adrenal
hormones also regulate such functions as sugar balance (via glucocorticoids),
mineral balance (via mineralocorticoids) and sexual development (via
the sex hormones.) A key point in understanding the therapy for supporting
adrenal function is that all of these hormones are synthesized from
cholesterol, and that the adrenal cortex is the organ in our bodies
with the most need for the vitamin C complex to maintain its function.
Also, it seems as if the adrenal cortex is very sensitive to blood sugar
levels and that consumption of refined carbohydrates is at the bottom
of many cases of allergies for both humans and in animal studies. The
natural therapy for all allergies, therefore, is not cortisone – the
conventional therapy for allergic disease but which suppresses and eventually
weakens our adrenal glands – but a nutritional and supplemental program
which actually rebuilds and rebalances our adrenal cortex.
The first step in this therapy is to absolutely avoid all refined
carbohydrates including bread, pasta and sugar, as well as most sweet
foods such as maple syrup and fruit juices, while any allergic symptoms
are present. The diet should be rhythmical, that is you should eat three
meals a day with no snacks in between. At each meal eat about 1/3 animal
food, 1/3 properly prepared whole grains and 1/3 vegetables in a variety
of ways, and with plenty of good quality butter. To aid in mineral balance,
use only Celtic sea salt. I also suggest people include zucchini daily
in their diet and to make liberal use of bone broths as the minerals
in these foods seems to lessen allergic symptoms.
To help "immunize" yourself against pollen, eat 1 tablespoon of really
raw honey (locally produced if possible) with the addition of about
1/2 tablespoon of fresh bee pollen. With the bee pollen, start with
a few granules and gradually increase to the full dose. Eat foods high
in the full vitamin C complex such as sprouts, sauerkraut, raw milk
and fresh berries. Also, take a supplement with these components such
as Cataplex C or Collagen C from Standard Process, or acerola berries,
about 250 mg. three times a day, from Schiff, or from Springreen (816-221-3298).
Often with my patients I add either sublingual or intravenous adrenal
cortical extract to augment adrenal function. Your physician can obtain
the adrenal cortex preparations from Apothecure (800) 545-9960. They
also make a product called Adrenal Cortex Support which is a combination
of desiccated adrenal gland, vitamin C, magnesium and licorice root,
an herbal medicine well known for its ability to strengthen adrenal
function.
Most people get significant relief from this regimen after about three
to four weeks, so don't forget to start early next year!
About the Author
 Thomas
Cowan, MD, is a physician in private practice in San Francisco, California,
a board member of the Weston A. Price Foundation, and a regular contributor
to our "Ask the Doctor" column. His book The Fourfold Path to
Healing is now available from NewTrends Publishing, http://www.newtrendspublishing.com/.
Visit Dr. Cowan's website at http://www.fourfoldhealing.com.
©1999 Tom Cowan. All Rights Reserved.
First published
in Price-Pottenger Nutrition Foundation Health Journal
<Back
| Home | Tour
| Calendar | Contact
Us | Funding | Join
Now
|